Report from firefighters panel draws criticism

Kaitlin Keane

Friday

Feb 22, 2008 at 12:01 AMFeb 22, 2008 at 7:23 PM

A report released by a Boston Fire Department panel denies that drugs or alcohol played a role in the deaths of firefighter Paul Cahill of Scituate or colleague Warren Payne, who died August 29 in a fire at Tai Ho Mandarin and Cantonese Restaurant -- a claim that drew immediate criticism from Fire Commissioner Roderick Fraser and Mayor Thomas Menino. (Video in story)

A report released by a Boston Fire Department panel denies that drugs or alcohol played a role in the deaths of firefighter Paul Cahill of Scituate or colleague Warren Payne, who died August 29 in a fire at Tai Ho Mandarin and Cantonese Restaurant.

The report, compiled by a panel made up of union firefighters, was released today and drew immediate criticism from Boston fire commission Roderick Fraser, who sent a letter to the panel questioning the findings. The panel did not use toxicology reports from the autopsies of the men in their investigation.

Media reports in October claimed that autopsies for the two men found that Payne had traces of cocaine in his system and that Cahill's blood-alcohol content was 0.27, three times the legal limit to drive.

Boston Firefighter's Union President Ed Kelly defended the report today, saying the autopsy results were protected by law and that it should be up to the families of the men if the results are released.

To view the 136-page report, click here.

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